We Bled Together: Michael Collins, The Squad and the Dublin Brigade
By Dominic Price Hardback €24.99
This thrilling account of the daring espionage and killings carried out by both sides on Dublin’s streets during the War of independence is vividly brought to life by Dominic Price using eyewitness testimonies and war diaries. Price reveals their meticulous research into guerrilla tactics employed by the Cubans in their War of Independence, the 2nd Boer War and General von Lettow-Vorbeck against the British in east Africa. He shows Collins and the Dublin Brigade’s desperate methods; improvised explosive devices, chemical weapons. Their sacrifice and determination to bring to birth Irish freedom is well recorded in this intimate and poignant book.
Above photo: Members of The Squad
Extract:
‘The Squad never questioned Collins’ reasons for having someone killed. Mick Collins, as far as members of the squad were concerned, ‘was the kind of man it was easy to trust’ … The risks and danger experienced by his operatives affected Collins greatly and he could visualise their suffering. Eamon Broy, who spent a lot of time with the Director of Ira intelligence, related how Collins described events:
Collins had such a remarkable power of description that, listening to him, one could form a vivid mental picture of the occurrences he described. For instance, in his account of the tortures of Hales and Harte in West Cork [by the Essex Regiment and Major Percival], the impression he created was a vivid as if one actually saw the pliers being used to tear the flesh from the victim. These tortures were inflicted by the British Army long before the Black and Tans came to the country. As a result of his treatment Harte went insane.’
With the outbreak of the Civil War, many of the bonds that developed remained tight amongst the Dublin Brigade who were loyal to Collins. Price expertly looks at some of the darkest moments of the Civil War and the mental scars that left on those who were involved.
Book review by Marcus Howard
Dominic Price features prominently in a documentary by Marcus Howard on Michael Collins in 1918 which features below.
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